Hammond, IN Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- General rule
- No alcohol in any city park
- Sale-authorized venues
- Civic Center, Jean Shepherd Center, Wolf Lake
- Event exception
- Nonprofit/labor group with Park Board + Council permit
- Governing section
- Hammond Code § 99.26
- Latest amendment
- Ord. 9373, passed 4-10-2017
Summary
In the City of Hammond, Indiana, no person may bring, consume, possess, sell, give away or handle beer, ale or other alcoholic beverages in any city park, unless the Park Board authorizes sale at named venues or the Park Board and Common Council issue an event permit to a qualifying nonprofit or labor group.
§ 99.26 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. No person shall bring beer, ale or other alcoholic beverages into any park or consume, have in possession, sell, give away or handle any intoxicating or alcoholic beverages in any park or park street, except the city's Park Board may authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages at the Hammond Civic Center, Jean Shepherd Community Center, Wolf Lake and except that the Park Board and Common Council may approve and issue a permit for an event held by any civic, charitable, not-for-profit or labor organization, at any city park, provided such organization has obtained any and all other required permits.
Full Breakdown
26, titled "Alcoholic Beverages," prohibits bringing beer, ale or other alcoholic beverages into any park, or consuming, possessing, selling, giving away or handling any intoxicating or alcoholic beverage in any park or park street. The section carves out two exceptions rather than a blanket ban. First, the city's Park Board may authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages at three specific venues: the Hammond Civic Center, the Jean Shepherd Community Center, and Wolf Lake. Second, the Park Board and Common Council together may approve and issue a permit for an event held by a civic, charitable, not-for-profit or labor organization at any city park, provided that organization has obtained all other required permits; a spontaneous private gathering or an individual's own picnic does not qualify for this permit path.
The provision has been amended repeatedly since its original 1982 adoption (Ord. 4793), most recently by Ord. 9373, passed April 10, 2017, showing the Common Council has continued to refine which venues and event types can serve alcohol on park property. 25 in the same incident. 01.
Violations & Fines
Section 99.26 cross-references § 10.99, the general penalty: a fine not exceeding $2,500 for a first violation, rising to not exceeding $7,500 for a subsequent violation, with continuing violations counted day by day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink beer at a Hammond city park picnic?
Where can alcohol legally be sold in a Hammond park?
Can I be cited for both having alcohol and being drunk in a Hammond park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hammond
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